Sunday, March 28
Urbana-Champaign, IL
1 P.M. ET
Michigan State University
0
at
7
Illinois
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletic Communications
Spartans Fall at No. 14 Illinois
3/28/2021 4:21:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State men's tennis team fell to No. 14 Illinois, 7-0, Sunday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana, Illinois.
The Fighting Illini (12-2, 9-1 Big Ten) began the dual with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take an early 1-0 lead. Illinois' top duo of Zeke Clark and Alex Brown, ranked No. 27 in the nation, remained undefeated on the season by topping No. 38 Kazuki Matsuno and Nick Williams, 6-0.
Illinois featured three ranked players in its singles lineup, getting wins from No. 54 Siphosothando Montsi at No. 1 over Carson Gates (7-6 (7-5), 6-2) and No. 28 Zeke Clark at No. 3 over Anthony Pero (6-2, 6-3).
At No. 2 singles, Williams battled Brown, who is ranked No. 119 in the country, to three sets. After dropping the first set, 6-4, Williams took the second set, 7-5, before falling in the super tiebreaker, 11-9.
The Fighting Illini won in straight sets at No. 4, 5 and 6 singles to earn the 7-0 victory.
After two straight weeks on the road, Michigan State (4-8, 4-6 Big Ten) returns home next weekend to host Purdue on Saturday, April 3 and Indiana on Sunday, April 4. Both matches will begin at noon.
The Fighting Illini (12-2, 9-1 Big Ten) began the dual with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles to take an early 1-0 lead. Illinois' top duo of Zeke Clark and Alex Brown, ranked No. 27 in the nation, remained undefeated on the season by topping No. 38 Kazuki Matsuno and Nick Williams, 6-0.
Illinois featured three ranked players in its singles lineup, getting wins from No. 54 Siphosothando Montsi at No. 1 over Carson Gates (7-6 (7-5), 6-2) and No. 28 Zeke Clark at No. 3 over Anthony Pero (6-2, 6-3).
At No. 2 singles, Williams battled Brown, who is ranked No. 119 in the country, to three sets. After dropping the first set, 6-4, Williams took the second set, 7-5, before falling in the super tiebreaker, 11-9.
The Fighting Illini won in straight sets at No. 4, 5 and 6 singles to earn the 7-0 victory.
After two straight weeks on the road, Michigan State (4-8, 4-6 Big Ten) returns home next weekend to host Purdue on Saturday, April 3 and Indiana on Sunday, April 4. Both matches will begin at noon.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
62
Siphosothando Montsi / 0 (54/-) [ILL]
76
#2 Singles Match
123
479
Alex Brown / 0 (119/-) [ILL]
6511
#3 Singles Match
12
23
Zeke Clark / 0 (28/-) [ILL]
66
#4 Singles Match
12
21
Hunter Heck / 0 [ILL]
66
#5 Singles Match
12
32
Noe Khlif / 0 [ILL]
66
#6 Singles Match
12
42
Lucas Horve / 0 [ILL]
66
Order of Finish:
5,4,3,6,1,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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